One month and 5 days post "Big Chop"

Going to my first Curly Hair party tonight. So exciting. Planning to learn all I can.

The Mommy Club House...

The term of endearment that my lovely husband used when I told him where I would be spending my Saturday afternoon on May 4, 2013.

He can call it a "Mommy Club House" if he wants - either way, I am totally excited to join in on this fabulous adventure in which my beloved best friend and soul sister is embarking.

Have you ever wished you had a place to escape too? A place where you can go and just breathe? Get away from the children, work, house hold duties - husbands.... ;) Some where you can be yourself - center yourself - connect with your creative self? Whether it's painting, dancing or creating crafts or just bonding with like minded women. Well, my dear friend has a vision of such a place. Our place.  A studio where women can gather and celebrate who we are and everything that we are meant to be.

I'd like to introduce you all to Soul Sister's Studio and my best friend of 20 plus years Jennifer Koenig.  She, through the assistence of CreateHereNow, are bringing new and exciting things to the city of Bridgeport, CT.

If you live in Connecticut or in the Fairfield county area, I invite you to come out and join us. Bring a friend, a fellow Soul Sister to partake in this wonderful event. Let's share and Celebrate our Soulful Beautiful Selves!!

If we believed in the media we would think the only significant relationship in our lives is a romantic one. Yet sisterhood is probably the one that will last longer than any other... a sister will always be around.

~ Jane Dowdeswell

Today is my Tomorrow

I love the quote and photo here. If only "rest" and "quietness" were my go to words, but alas as I type these words I have the blaring of 3 (yes 3) different television sets going. Wrestling, Nick Jr and Disney Jr - music to my ears. Lol... I'm not going to allow the symphony of sets to discourage me though. Especially not when the Thursday Blog Hop from Melissa Taylor's online bible study sort of picks up from what I mentioned on Tuesday. Remember? My Word of the Day??

In joining up with the fellow Blog Hoppers, I decided to chat on the topic of "A Healthy Tomorrow". The question being:

3. Healthy Tomorrow. Chapter 3. What are some healthy choices you need to make for your life as you deal with stress? OR Share with us the healthy choices you already make!

If you asked me this question on Tuesday (yesterday even), I wouldn't have had an answer for you. Not in the midst of my every day. Matter-of-fact, I wouldn't have had an answer this morning. Lol... But I took the time to actually catch up on the bible study (***GASP*** I was 2 weeks behind) and one thing settled in my spirit. The ONE thing (because we have to start somewhere) that I can do - not tomorrow- but today is accept my limitations. And it actually stood out to me in this week's verse for the week. Isaiah 30:15... I think the Message version said it best for me:

"God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me— The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do."

I read this verse and it just stepped all on my toes. Somewhere along the way, I developed this belief that I'm the savor - this one woman show.  The strong idea that I have to have it all together. Believing that I have to do it all (cooking, cleaning, help with homework, carpool, work, make dead-lines, look good, drop the baby weight, help family & friends and all with a smile on my face, no attitude and no guilt for when I have to actually say no. Pushing through each day and worse yet to the point of now, just going through the motions. Somewhere losing sight of me.

So I have to make this choice today. Not tomorrow. I say "Tomorrow" way too much. "I'll start over tomorrow" - the magic mantra. Today is all I'm guaranteed. So it has to be a daily choice to lay down those burdens and put my dependence completely in Him. To just breathe and trust that the Lord has got my back. And just praying that maybe along the way I'll learn who I am through HIS eyes - not mine and definitely not this worlds.

Besides whoever created that lovely phrase "Super Mom" - yeah, they can keep it. I don't want the "S" on my chest or the cape on my back! No matter how sexy my husband may think it is. ;) I'm retiring... Well the cape is at least.

 



The New Me?

My time to sit down and actually write a blog are few and far between. With working full time (outside of the home), taking care of 3 active kids and balancing a home - I find I have little time to sit, let alone write. However, I find today to be one of those rare occasions where instead of mindlessly checking out the latest face book updates or flipping through countless pins (that I never seem to use), I decided to write.

Well actually, that's not what prompted it. What prompted this was my Google search of the word "Exhaustion". Quite simple - that's how I feel. Totally and utterly exhausted!! What clued me in? Well, besides my life in general. I have an event coming up in May that had (key word there) me all excited and determined to get my act together. At least 10-15 pounds gone, transitioning hair kept up and daily intentions set (and completed). I'm laughing now as I type this because it's day 2 and well - I Googled "Exhaustion" - need I say more?! Anyways, my search returned an interesting word that just stood out to me... FRAZZLE.

F-R-A-Z-Z-L-E.... FRAZZLE

So of course the next word I Google? Frazzle....

Verb: Cause to feel completely exhausted; wear out...

Hmm... Mom of 3, oldest is in school with activities after, littlest ones are 3 and 1... Work full time... Blah... Blah... Blah...  

Noun: The state of being completely exhausted or worn out: "I'm tired, worn to a frazzle".

I think Frazzle is my word of the day!!

But get this, not only did I Google the word, I also Googled the image. And I have to say - I probably do look like this to my kids...

LOL... I guess this guy is from Sesame Street? My kids are more Disney and Nick Jr than PBS. :) But if this is what I turned into - some changes need to be made and fast!! Praying Day 3 brings renewed energy or at least another good laugh!! :)

Good #HelloMorning!

Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation.  ~ Psalm 62:1

Blog Hop from week 5 of the Let.It.Go bible study with Melissa Taylor. I can admit, I opted for the quick and easy. Not that I'm trying to avoid getting down and deep during this bible study - I actually love it and am gaining a lot (from what I've gotten in so far - I'm a bit behind). When I saw the first topic about quiet time, I was like the Staples motto "That was easy". 

I'm in my second session with the Hello Mornings Challenge. I'm also following along with the Abounding Hope bible study with my Hello Mornings group. The challenge supplies accountability to those of us who need extra encouragement to get up in the mornings for quiet time with the Lord. Is it easy - most days not so much. But I find that once I'm up and moving, I start my day so much better when I have my time with the Lord. I pour out my heart and my prayers and blessing - grounding me for the day. Or at least until one my 3 munchkins tip toes in to the living room to cuddle with Mommy or ask Mommy questions. Such is life. But even in those moments in the early mornings - I find lately, I don't mind so much. My early morning quiet time has also taught me what I once thought to be an interruption are my many blessings (I count and thank the Lord for 3 each morning). :)  

The Hair Journey Continues...

It feels like I've been at this forever. I official began my hair journey aka transition July 4, 2012. Although my last relaxer was around December 2011. And here I am today - 18+ months into the journey. Still trying to figure out what works. I finally (18 months later) purchased EVOO. I know, a little late. ;) Hope my first try with adding it to my pre-poo is a success. Fingers crossed. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Today's Hair Regimen...

I started and stopped this post SO many times. But finally decided to come back to it. Basically out of necessity. I've been doing so much research and trying different things that I can't keep track of what I'm doing week to week. Hence, the title... ;)

This is how I started this post originally...
So I'm finding myself on a new journey. I, like many women, have decided to go back to my natural hair. I've had a relaxer for as long as I can possible remember. Well over 30+ years. I don't even remember what my natural hair looks like - which is scary! I had been toying with the idea for a while. Then when I found out I was pregnant with a girl - my mind was pretty much made up. I wish I could pin point my exact last relaxer. I do know that I was still early in my pregnancy. Since baby girl will be a year next month - I know definitely that it's been a little over a year since my last relaxer. Surprisingly at my last hair appoint (last month), she said my hair was healthy and growing. All good signs. I'm praying for strength for the journey. :) [I rambled... see why it took so long too post. lol... Baby girl is now 13 months old].

Back to the present. Today's hair regiment: I did my pre poo treatment with AVON Advance Technique's 360 Nourish Moroccan Argan Conditioner. Followed up by 2 free samples from Miss Jessie's. If you visit the website you get 2 free samples of choice. My choices were the Super Sudsy Shampoo and the Super Sweetback Treatment. Although, the samples are super small and with my hair thickness, I will probably have to use something else? Not sure yet (as I'm still in the pre poo phase).  Here is what I'm working with today...

We'll see how the end results turn out. My challenges have been detangling and dryness... Please pray for me. :)

I never posted photos of my journey, so here they are:

Choice to go natural aka transition - July 4, 2012. Funny, I chose Independence Day! (I had an entire internal battle with all the old "black women & their hair" issues). This was also my last visit to the hair salon. Need to go back for a good trim though. My hair don't look this wonderfully straight any more. :)

    one of my munchkins with me. :) ==>

 <=== Current photo. 3 months post relaxer (or transition decision, which ever is more fitting).


I'm still holding strong. Trying to do this WITH 3 kids (2 of them under 4) adds a tiny bit more stress. It's only by the grace of God that I get through it all. Especially my hair wash days (like today)!

More to come with more pictures and progress!! Until then...